'Inari' comes to West Lafayette to introduce world's first seed foundry

A company new to West Lafayette is challenging the seed industry. It's also bringing a lot of new jobs to the area.

Posted: Nov 8, 2018 4:42 PM

Updated: Nov 8, 2018 6:17 PM

Posted By: Isabella Caruso

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)- If you've been through the Purdue Research Park lately, you may have noticed a new green house on Win Hentschel Boulevard. Inari, a Flagship Pioneering company, will be working in the space to "revolutionize the seed industry."

The East Coast startup is creating the world's first seed foundry, and intends to disrupt the seed industry with it.

It will do so by reintroducing natural genetic diversity, which will make the seed cheaper, grow faster and have an overall better performance.

The company wants to develop customized seeds for specific climates around the world.

CEO of Inari, Ponsi Trivisvavet, said the company's goal is to feed the world without starving the planet.

Trivisvavet said that happens with crops that give more nutrition to consumers, are more resilient to climate change, have less of an effect on the environment, and give more profits to growers.

As for the company's decision to plant roots in West Lafayette, Trivisvavet said Inari had been looking to open a new location in the midwest.

However, she said the number one reason Inari chose to come to West Lafayette is to attract the talents from Purdue University.

"Second is the top-notch facility and their relationship and collaboration with Purdue University. And thirdly, which is really important, it gets us closer to our customers, the seed companies here in the Midwest," Trivisvavet said.

Greg Deason, Senior Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Place Making with the Purdue Research Foundation, said he's rooting for Inari to get its solutions into the market and make an incredible impact.

"These are the kinds of things that we need to really produce for the next generations," Deason said. "We know the population of our world is expanding, that's going to put pressure on food and water quality."

Trivisvavet said Inari is excited to start working in West Lafayette to solve the world's food crisis.

Inari is currently recruiting and will bring 50 jobs to the area by 2023. Click here for more information on how to apply.

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